PCS 181 Lecture 10: Introduction to Astronomy-Lecture 10 Notes!.docx

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Physics
• Course: PCS 181
• Professor: Margaret Buckby

Document Summary

A neutron star (ns) is the compacted core of a star that had a magnetic field. The neutron star has strong magnetic field which directs charged particles to the. The particles continuing strike the surface of the ns, creating polar hot spots . These hot spots radiate over a wide range of wavelengths visible and invisible. If the ns is properly oriented with respect to earth, we detect the beams of radiation emitted by the hot spots as the ns rotates on its axis. If we detect these pulses, we call the object a pulsar . However, a pulsar is a neutron star . But every neutron star is not a pulsar. Mass range: 1. 4 mo < mns < ~3mo. Size: ~20 to 100 km across ~about the size of a city. Density is similar to that of an atomic nucleus ~1017 kg/m3 to 1018kg/m3. Temperature: ~10 x 106 k on surface.